Booker T. Jones Comes Home with "The Road From Memphis"

Booker T. Jones Comes Home with "The Road From Memphis"

Booker T. Jones - "Road to Memphis" cover

I've been excited about Booker T. Jones' new record "The Road from Memphis" since I watched him play one of NPR's "Tiny Desk Concerts" a few weeks ago.

"The Road from Memphis" is a homecoming record. It's a return to Booker T.'s funky Stax-era sound, loaded with deliberate, joyful, sexy melodies lovingly teased from a giant Hammond B3 organ.

The best tracks on the record are the ones that stick with his classic formula of instrumentals like "The Vamp", "Rent Party" and "The Hive". Booker T.'s cover of Gnarls Barkley's "Crazy" is so effortless and natural that I immediately want to know what would happen if he and Cee-Lo ever shared a stage.

Booker T. assembled an impressive supporting cast for "The Road from Memphis". The record was produced by the Roots' ?uestlove and Sharon Jones, Lou Reed, Jim James and Matt Berninger of The National are featured on the vocal tracks.

Unfortunately, though, the vocal tracks are where the record falters. Though Jim James (listed as Yim Yames) is great on "Progress", and Sharon Jones' voice is a natural fit for Booker T.'s sound, an aging Lou Reed sounds a little lost singing about the Bronx's funkiness (especially on a record that's largely about Memphis). I'm still trying to figure out whether or not the version of Biz Markie's 80's hip hop single "Just a Friend" is awesome or just awkward.

There are a few songs about Memphis on the record - Booker T. sings "Down in Memphis", which is lyrically similar to the record's other Memphis vocal, "Representing Memphis". In terms of inspiring hometown pride, both songs come off a little trite. Maybe that's because it's hard to talk about Memphis in a way that captures exactly what this place is and why it's so special.

Regardless, if you're looking for a good crowd-pleasing summer soul record for your next throwdown, "The Road from Memphis" delivers.

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Michelle Friedman
Bottom line, the record recaptures the Memphis sound in a nostalgic and heartwarming way. I was thrilled with the vocal collaboration of all artists involved. However, while the musical style was a sound to behold, the lyrics are what fell short for me.
May 10, 2011 12:05pm
Whitney
"Representing Memphis" is a free download this week on iTunes!
May 10, 2011 12:55pm
Len Pipkin
We're a river/harbor/port town, akin to NOLA, NYC, San Fran; eclectic bt its very influences, multicultural, multigenerational; the people, the music, the cuisine, the arts, all steeped in a peculiar heritage; we, as a "place" exude a feeling, a sound, a vibe; Memphis is ineffable; not easy to ascribe a singular, seminal descriptive upon: though, when you experience 'it' fully, its in your bones...
May 10, 2011 1:34pm
Kelsey Clarkson
This album is getting hot buzz from Esquire's " 30 Summer Songs Every Man Should Listen To". *thumbs up*
May 18, 2011 5:49pm